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Smoky the Cowhorse · Theme
Cruelty and Kindness
How Smoky the Cowhorse develops Cruelty and Kindness.
The narrative contrasts Clint's patient, gentle training with the brutal treatment Smoky endures as a rodeo outlaw and a livery horse, highlighting the impact of human nature on animals.
Where it surfaces
- XI: “The Feel of a Strange Hand”
The thief's brutal beating of Smoky and constant torment contrasts sharply with Clint's earlier gentle handling, highlighting the theme of cruelty versus kindness.
- XII: “When the Good Leaves”
The contrast between the crowd's cruel disappointment and the rider's gentle words to the 'has been' horse.
- A Many-Men Horse
Tourists unknowingly mistreat Smoky through overwork, while the stable man shows small kindnesses like currying and feeding.